Horsebetting.com experts provide 2018 Juddmonte International Stakes betting tips for the feature race on the opening day of York’s Ebor Festival on Wednesday, 22 August. Course and distance winner Roaring Lion looks worth a wager to provide trainer John Gosden with a first win in the prestigious Group 1 contest over 1m 2f. Poet’s Word is feared most, while Saxon Warrior odds appeal each-way. For full details why, read our in-depth 2018 Juddmonte International Stakes betting tips preview.Wild about the chances of Roaring Lion in Juddmonte InternationalThe feature race on the opening day of York’s Ebor Festival is the Juddmonte International Stakes (15:35), and Roaring Lion looks worth a bet to land a stellar renewal of the 1m 2f Group 1 contest on Wednesday, 22 August. Trained by John Gosden, the three-year-old ran very well when a staying on 2 1/2 lengths fifth of 14 to Saxon Warrior in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
It was an effort which suggested he was crying out for a step up in trip and that has subsequently proved to be the case. Roaring Lion could not have been more impressive when landing the Group 2 Dante Stakes over this course and distance back in May, as he travelled powerfully throughout before quickening clear at the furlong marker to easily beat Mildenberger by 4 1/2 lengths.
He backed that up with a cracking two-length third to Masar in the Epsom Derby where the 1m 4f trip seemed to stretch his stamina to the limit. The son of Kitten’s Joy then got back to winning ways when beating Saxon Warrior by a neck in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse over 1m 2f at Sandown last time out.
Roaring Lion lost his pitch at a vital stage, but regular pilot Oisin Murphy did not panic and brought him with a steady run down the outside of the field. A tremendous battle then ensued inside the final furlong and, despite edging right he asserted 100 yards from home, he landed the spoils.
Given how the race panned out it was a top class performance, and Roaring Lion was arguably value for more than the winning margin. The front two also pulled 2 1/2 lengths clear of the field, so that gives the form a solid look.
Roaring Lion is now two from two over the 1m 2f trip of this and looks a real 10-furlong specialist. He also has underfoot conditions to suit and receives a handy 7lb weight-for-age allowance from main market rival Poet’s Word.
Taking it into account he has only 1lb to find on official ratings with Sir Michael Stoute’s charge. Given that Roaring Line looks sure to progress further, it does not look an impossible task; so – at the odds on offer – he had to be the main selection in our 2018 Juddmonte International Stakes betting tips.Poet’s Word a big player for in-form StouteNewmarket trainer Stoute has won the race a record six times courtesy of Shardari (1986), Ezzoud (1993 and 1994), Singspiel (1997), Notnowcato (2006), and Ulysses (2017). His sole representative this time around is the aforementioned Poet’s Word who comes into the contest in the form of his life, heads the betting, and looks the obvious danger to Roaring Lion.
This five-year-old has won seven of his 16 career starts and races here on the back of a hat-trick of successes. After easily landing a Group 3 at Sandown, the son of Poet’s Voice stayed on strongly to beat Cracksman by 2 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over 1m 2f at Royal Ascot.
Poet’s Word then showed a tremendous attitude to reel-in stable companion Crystal Ocean when landing the 1m 4f King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the same venue last month. The latter earned Poet’s Word an official rating of 130 and that is the highest in the line-up.
Dropping back down to 1m 2f will also hold no fears, as he has a 40 per cent strike rate over it. He is a horse that is clearly at the top of his game at present and has a rock solid profile to boot. Taking everything into account, Poet’s Word is going to be a tough nut to crack in what promises to be a battle royale between him and Roaring Lion, so therefore has to be feared most.Saxon Warrior holds solid each-way claimsGiven that he was beaten just a neck by Roaring Lion in the Coral-Eclipse, Saxon Warrior is another worth considering in fascinating contest and looks a solid each-way betting proposition. The three-year-old colt looked to have the world at his feet when impressively landing the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket back in May and hails from the yard of Aidan O’Brien, who has won the Juddmonte on five occasions.
Saxon Warrior quickened clear to readily beat Tip To Win by 1 1/2 lengths in the first Classic of the season and the manner of the victory suggested he was a potential superstar in the making. It’s therefore disappointing that the son of Deep Impact has failed to get his head in front in three subsequent outings.
However, they have all been at Group 1 level. After finishing fourth in The Derby at Epsom, Saxon Warrior was beaten just three-quarters of a length into third in the Irish equivalent. He then went down all guns blazing when beaten a neck by Roaring Lion in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Connections have wisely given him a break since to freshen up. So, given that there is only 1lb between him and Roaring Lion on official ratings, Saxon Warrior looks sure to make a bold bid to land this valuable prize and is thus a strong each-way bet to consider among our 2018 Juddmonte International Stakes betting tips.Your Next Bet
